Pathfinder - Character Optimization - Social Talents

Disclaimer

I will use content from the core rules, but will intentionally omit any content not published
on the official Pathfinder SRD due to the
unmanageable volume of non-SRD content, and the wildly varying quality of non-SRD content.
If you would like me to write handbooks for specific content not published on the official
SRD, please email me and I will consider it on a case-by-case
basis. I will use the color coding scheme which has become common among Pathfinder build
handbooks. Also note that many colored items are also links to the Paizo SRD.

Red: Bad, useless options, or options which are extremely situational.

Orange: OK options, or useful options that only apply in rare circumstances

Green: Good options.

Blue: Fantastic options, often essential to the function of your character.

Temporary Note: Pathfinder Unchained and Occult Adventures were
both recently added to the SRD. I'm excited to explore them, and I am actively working
on adding their contents to my collection of handbooks. I appreciate your patience while
I make these changes.

Social Talents

Talents

Case the Joint (Ex): Situational, but this is the
sort of thing which Vigilantes do frequently. It's also one of very few talents
which crosses the border between your identities.

Double Time (Ex): Consider vigilantes who exist in popular
fiction: How many of them are a middle-class laborer? How many are farmers? Smiths?
Coopers? None. Being a prominent merchant or noble presents access, influence, and
resources far beyond the reach of artisans and professionals. Taking this talent actually
makes your character less powerful. It's especially odd since you can take
this at any point in your career and your character suddenly stops being a noble and
starts being a craftsman.

In Vogue (Ex): Compared to the amount of
money which one needs to stick to the level/gold curve in Pathfinder, the
pittance you get from Craft/Profession is a pittance.

Gossip Collector (Ex): I've never been in a situation
where there was a time limit strict enough that this mattered.

Many Guises (Ex): You could easily do this with the
Disguise skill, but you have limited skill ranks and a talent for a +20 bonus to a
common usage of the skill is a decent investment.

Everyman (Su): This stretches how much you
can justify spending talents to avoid putting ranks into Disguise. I would
think that if you were planning to use disguises this much you would put
enough resources into it that you don't need to spend talents.

Any Guise (Su): Very situational.
With the exception of the scrying component, you could do all of
this with a Disguise check. It takes three talents to reach this
point, which is far too much cost to avoid spending skill ranks
on Disguise.

Mockingbird (Ex): Situational, but one of few
talents which carries over between identities.

Quick Change (Ex): If you need this frequently enough
to justify it, you're not doing a good enough job concealing your identity. Instead
of wasting a talent, take the time to create a distraction or find somewhere secluded
to change your pants.

Renown (Ex): The Renown mechanic fits the theme and
mechanics of the Vigilante exceptionally well. The size of the community is a strict
limiting factor, but additional talents allow you to quickly expand it. The improved
disposition and Intimidate bonus are both very helpful.

Celebrity Discount (Ex): If you use a lot of low-cost
magic items like potions, scrolls, and wands, this can save you a small fortune over
the course of your career.

Celebrity Perks (Ex): Pathfinder is a game where a level
2 character frequently has enough gold in their pocket to destabilize the local economy.
Even with Incredible Renown, the presence of taxes and bribes would need to be absurdly
large to justify wasting a talent on this.

Feign Innocence (Ex): You should be able to do
this without a talent.

Subjective Truth (Ex): You shouldn't
need this enough to spend a talent on it. If Zones of Truth are
common enough that you need this your GM is probably being a bit
unfair toward your character.

Great Renown (Ex): Renown's population cap
is too small to get by in all but the smallest communities.

Instant Recognition (Ex): If you're
traveling enough to justify this you shouldn't be playing a
Vigilante.

Safe House (Ex): Very situational. Unless your foes have
access to divination magic (a distinct possibility in Pathfinder), this can be handled
by mundane means without spending a talent. Even then, you can have a party member
cast Nondetection.

Social Grace: It certainly beats Skill Focus. I recommend
using this to boost your Face skills. Since you get more bonuses at higher levels,
there's no rush to pick this up.